Gender equity and inclusion

Why Gender Equity Matters

• Women contribute significantly to coffee farming, processing, and retail.
• Despite this, they often have less access to land, credit, training, and leadership roles.
• Closing the gender gap improves farm productivity, community resilience, and sustainability.

Barriers Faced by Women

• Land Ownership: In many producing countries, legal or cultural norms restrict women from owning land.
• Access to Resources: Women farmers often excluded from credit schemes and training programs.
• Decision-Making: Men more likely to control farm income and cooperative leadership.
• Workload: Women balance farm work with disproportionate household and caregiving duties.

Benefits of Inclusion

• Studies show that when women have equal access to resources, yields increase by 20–30%.
• Women reinvest more income into nutrition, education, and healthcare, improving community welfare.
• Gender-balanced leadership leads to more inclusive decision-making.

Industry Initiatives

• International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA): Global network supporting women in coffee.
• Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS): Tools for household-level equity planning.
• Certification Schemes: Fairtrade and RA increasingly integrate gender equity standards.
• Direct Trade Partnerships: Some roasters highlight and support women-produced lots.

Practical Steps for Roasters & Cafés

• Source from women-led cooperatives and highlight them to consumers.
• Support training programs that ensure women’s equal participation.
• Use storytelling to recognize women’s contributions in origin marketing.

Summary

Gender equity in coffee is both a moral and economic imperative. By addressing barriers to land, credit, and leadership, the industry can unlock higher productivity, stronger communities, and a more inclusive coffee culture.

• Tags:
• Direct Trade
• Coffee Culture
• Coffee Farming
• Decision Making